Syrian activists have criticised the choice of Mustafa al-Dabi, a Sudanese general, to head the Arab League's observer mission to Syria.

Al-Dabi is a staunch loyalist of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for genocide committed in Darfur.

Al-Dabi was Sudan's military intelligence chief, and was sent to Darfur to quell the unrest there. He is accused of creating the Arab militias known as the Janjaweed.